eNews: Court
When some court operations were suspended in March 2020 to reduce the spread of COVID, the BC Provincial Court’s specialized courts faced significant challenges. They had to find ways to continue the support and therapy they offer clients without endangering their health. The BC Provincial Court operates nine Indigenous and five other specialized courts.
On December 4, 2001, the Provincial Court of BC launched Canada’s second drug treatment court. The Drug Treatment Court of Vancouver (DTCV) is a specialized court that uses a problem-solving approach to the criminal process for people who commit offences to support addiction to drugs such as cocaine, heroin, fentanyl or other opiates, and crystal methamphetamine.
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While not without challenges, the Court’s use of technology during the last year to conduct some types of proceedings has increased access to justice for many people. Among other benefits, it has saved litigants and lawyers from travelling long distances for short court appearances.
About half a million violation tickets are issued every year in BC. The provincial government, in consultation with the Provincial Court, has developed a new online tool to help people in BC decide how to deal with their tickets.